I have 500 sq ft of parking strip that I am ‘paving’ with cobblestones [5" apart] that I would like to grow Nutmeg Thyme in-between. The area has full sun. I have a small test patch growning right now [planted from 4" containers] that seems very happy, but I will grow broke planting the entire area from 4" containers! :)

I noticed that you sell plug trays of nutmeg thyme. I am a novice gardener so please excuse my inane questions. How big is a ‘plug?’ [I am only familiar with 4" pots.]

A plug is one of about 120 rooted cuttings grown in a 10" (25 cm) by 18" (45 cm) tray divided into 128 little pots. It will take six months to a year to grow them to the size found in a 4" (10 cm) pot.

How far apart do you plant ‘plugs?’ [I don’t mind if it takes a year or two for it to all grow in. I’m not in any hurry.]

Plant them 6" (15cm) apart and be sure to water them as soon as the soil begins to dry.

Can I plant them in June?

Yes, unless you are in a zone 8 to 9 climate where the sun in June is so hot that you would have to shade and water the plantlets until the cooler days of fall.

This seems like a cost-effective method for me to cover such a large area. Any help you can give me would be much appreciated! Also, any idea how much the shipping would be per plug tray (to Portland, OR, USA)? I’ll need a bunch of trays. Maybe 10? or more?

Our plugs department will contact you shortly on the shipping cost and availability of nutmeg thyme trays. At the time of ordering plug trays there is a deposit required for the shipping cost of the trays. For We will credit or bill for any difference with the actual shipping cost.

You will probably want to plant 2-3 plugs around each cobblestone you lay down. If the stones are 5" across and you are spacing them 5" apart, then you will need 720 stones to pave the area. That means you will need between 1440 and 2160 plugs, or 12 to 18 trays.

You can stretch you budget by planting fewer plugs but it will take longer for the plants to fill in the area and you will find yourself having to hand weed more.